INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian University women's tennis team hosted its 2010-11 season opener with a dominating shutout victory over Mid-Central College Conference rival Saint Francis (Ind.) on Thursday afternoon at the Marian University Tennis Courts.

The Knights shut out the Cougars by a 9-0 count to improve to 3-0 on the season and 2-0 in the MCC.

Senior Dana Reynolds led the Knights with a straight-sets victory at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-1.
 
"Dana really impressed me today," said head coach Cassie Mackell. "She scouted her opponent well, but when she started to get away from her strategy, I was able to talk her back into the strategy and it really worked out well for her."

On the doubles court, which opened the match, the Knights swept through the Cougars at each position. Freshmen Lauren Paras and Olivia Pursell earned an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles, while freshmen Brittney Horlacher and Kemi Adeyemi earned an 8-6 victory. Junior Alyson O'Conner and sophomore Tiffany Schendel earned the win at No. 3 doubles, 8-3, to give the Knights the decided advantage.

Paras earned a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 2 singles, while Horlacher earned a 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 3 singles. Adeyemi was victorious at No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-0, while Pursell earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles.

Junior Maria Berry earned the sweep for the Knights with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles.

In exhibition play, the Knights earned six singles victories and two doubles wins. Senior Alyssa Richard and junior Samantha Jo Crump won 8-3, while sophomores Hannah Ruegesegger and Hillary Carpenter won 9-7.

Sophomore Amy Nocton won a pair of singles matches by a pair of 8-0 scores, while Crump won her match, 8-1. Richard won 9-7 in singles play, while Ruegsegger and Carpenter each won their matches by 8-5 and 8-4 counts, respectively.

The Knights remain at home this Saturday when Spring Arbor University comes to the Marian University Tennis Courts. First served is slated for 11 a.m.